Wesley Smith notes that the UK has added insect sensitivity training to their educational curriculum. aka, stamping on an insect is immoral. He concludes,
But given that the UK is showing increasing disrespect for the intrinsic value of human beings, the curriculum seems to me-to say the least-profoundly ironic.Isn't that an understatement?
If one agrees that insects, like man, were created by god, then, indeed stepping on them would be interfering with god’s divine plan. All life is sacred. Why would the life of an insect be any less sacred than that of a human, if god intended it to exist? Of course, stamping on an insect would be immoral, since it violates the will of god, who created it to live.
I find these issues and arguments fascinating, and bewildering. If you study science in depth, you'll know that there are billions of microscopic life forms that are constantly being born and instantly dying if they're born in the wrong place at the wrong time.
\I think one reason to stress insect sensitivity, is not necessarily to "save" individual insects from being stepped on, but to alert us to the value of insects in general the food chain. Are they pollinators, decomposers, population controllers of pest insects, or are they pests who eat our crops?
Awareness begins with noticing them and not stepping on them.
AS far as disrespect for human life, we're actually quite respectful of human life in the West: UK and the US. Once again, history will show what disrespect for human life is, it goes further back than the Bible, and the Bible documents plenty of human disrespect. Like when ancient peoples, starving, would cut open the bellies of pregnant women to eat the fetuses. Do you think that goes on in the western world today?
This post on the intrinsic value of insects has brought about an interesting discussion concerning why the value of humans and insects is different in an ultimate sense.
Something that is intrinsically valuable has an inherent worth based upon what it is. All members of the particular intrinsically valuable class are considered valuable regardless of their diversity.
On the otherhand, instrumental value depends on a characteristic, a quality or some property. If the characteristic is absent or lost, the "thing" loses its worth. In addition, the instrumental value of an item is highly subjective and dependent upon the needs and wants of the individual assigning value to it.
So, if humans are valuable because they are bigger, stronger or smarter - or - are capable of smashing a small creature, their value is variable and subject to change.
I hope that our readers will understand that human life is precious and worth protecting and sustaining because of the value placed upon it by a transcendent source (God) apart from each person's health status, maturity, intelligence, race, abilities, etc. This same value was not assigned to insects.
Consider:
For this I am thankful.
I have to say I am unfamiliar with this kind of reasoning. What does intrinsic value or inherent worth mean, based upon what a thing is? WHo decides worth and value? Certainly not me, or anyone for that matter. You can say
God, but you and I do not know God's mind, we only know his power and glory. WE are in no position to judge anything in God's kingdom, we are merely part of His amusement, His invention. He has passed his words to us through his scribes, and you cannot vouch for them getting it right, given how self- glorified they were. You and neither do I know God's reasoning for insects.
The one thing all creatures share, as opposed to rocks or minerals, is the life force. We all have it, it is God's creation. He makes the green beetle beautiful for a reason, He creates amazing beauty in the natural world, and each insect is a perfect jewel of creation -- take a look up close -- even the ugly bugs are brilliant little machines. They suffer as we do; war, famine, disease, disruption, attacks and massive slaughter or death by violent nature.
Why do we think we are so superior to insects? Why, because we have these self reflecting brains? WE can look at ourselves and feel -- well, ashamed. Right? And definitely afraid. I don't know why, but because we do, we like to put everything else beneath us. Safer.
Think about it. God is love, God is not judgement, against insects, or gay dolphins, (they can be homosexual) or gang banging sparrows.
You could be celebrating God's world, instead of finding ways to measure yourself better than an insect. Change of perspective might help.